March 2014 – Frontenac’s forward, Sam Bennett, was named OHL Player of the Week (ending March 2nd, 2014) after scoring four times and picking up six points in three weekly games. His week was highlighted by a four-point performance versus the Belleville Bulls on February 28th in a game where he scored his second hat trick of the season.
January 2014 – Despite missing the 2014 CHL/NHL Top Prospects game, Sam Bennett of the Kingston Frontenacs was ranked 3rd onTSN’s Bob McKenzie’s 2014 NHL Draft Mid-Term Rankings.
January 2014 – Sidelined with an injury, Samuel Bennett will not have the chance to showcase his skills at the CHL/NHL Top Prospects Game on January 15th as the team has replaced the high scoring OHLer. Prior to his injury, Bennett was enjoying a 24-game point streak that witnessed him rack up 16 goals and 44 points in that span. Bennett remains a potential Top 5 selection for the upcoming draft.
Profile from: Brendan Ross of Dobber Prospects – Mar. 7th
Reincarnation/Cloned – Kingston Frontenac General Manager and former NHL great, Doug Gilmour, is far from dead yet but if he was, everyone would be saying that he was reincarnated in the body of one Sam Bennett. Style, size, leadership, grit, compete, even the number – the same. Maybe he has been cloned.
Difference maker – Whatever the situation, you send out Sam because he has that all out compete which put together with high level skills can make the difference.
Compete – Sam’s top skill is his all out, no hands barred compete level. This is a skill you can’t buy because no team will let a player go with this skill. This is why Sam will go in the top five in the draft, maybe even number one as NHL Central Scouting has him.
Winner – 2013 U18 Worlds – Gold; 2013 Ivan Hlinka – Gold.
Profile from: Eldon MacDonald and Chris Ralph of The Hockey Writers – updated Feb. 24th
“The Ontario League’s player of the week, Bennett just keeps on marching through the season and now has 36 goals and 90 points through 55 games. That ranks him third overall in the OHL, but scouts also love the fact he’s an all-situations player that brings a little bit of bite to the ice. Draft eligible in 2014.”
From Ryan Kennedy in a The Hockey News ‘NHL prospect hot list’ post – March 4th
@IssHockey – “Big month tallying 17 PTS in 10 GP with a +12 rating (Oct); Core leader with the Fronts.” – Nov. 20th, 2013
“Sam continues to get better and better. The one overarching theme in Sam’s game is ‘rising to the occasion.’ It doesn’t matter what is required, he finds a way to get in the ‘guts of the action’ and to make a difference to winning. Very good skills and is capable of playing in all areas of the game. Smart and reads plays well and is equally adept at setting up plays as he is at finishing them. Top 2 line type.”
Profile from: TSNs Director of Scouting Craig Button – Sept. 18th